Whats wronge with my patella?

Well i injured my knee. It was swollen and red but now it isn't. It really hurts when i walk on it. It hurts on the side of my knee and below it! When I try 2 straiten my knee it locks! Its really painful. I've been hopping around my house 2 get meals and I tripped over my carpet and fell on my body! I went to the doc. and he said I might have torn a ligament and when I went to the Orth. he sent me home and didn't even take an MRI. Since then it is just getting worse! What is it? Why does my knee lock? What will they do to it? ex. brace? crutches? surgury? And What should I do know or who should I go to? Do you have any good Web sites on Anything? What can I do know so I dont trip again and 2 stop the pain?

Having had both knees "fixed", it really sounds like you have a torn meniscus (do a Google search to find out more about this). This is the cartilage that is between your upper & lower leg bones. It is located in back of your knee cap. I believe the "locking" is due to a piece that is torn and then catching. It will not get better. Most Dr's will give you a cortisone shot to see if this helps. Don't worry about this! It sounds worse than it is!
Don't take the standard answers, such as "you are getting old, etc". These are the answers you get when either the Dr does not know what he is doing OR they are trying to save $$$ because of an HMO etc. I have had both knees done with out major incisions, just using a scope. The last one was 8 days ago. I have been walking (carefully & with common sense) for the last 7 days. Please either insist that this Dr. really checks this out (MRI) and to tell you honestly, I'd worry about him. Maybe it's best if you find another Dr. Good Luck and as I have learned, just have it fixed. It doesn't make any sense to be in pain :-) My Dr has done both shoulder's (rotator cuff) & meniscus in both knee's. For me, bone spurs just tore up the cartilidige. I would NOT be advocating surgery (if in fact it is really needed) if it didn't help. Also, should it be a torn ACL, this is a little more invasive and more than likely you will be laid up a little longer!

i would call your primary MD or even the orthopod that you seen and tell them that the problem is getting worse.....good luck

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